Poll: Why did you want to become a Web developer?
Thursday November 15, 2007
There are about as many reasons to be a Web designer as there are Web designers. It's a fun field and there is so much possible. I originally wanted to learn HTML (hypertext, actually) when I was in the Peace Corps. I was reading this weird, brightly colored magazine called "Wired", probably one of their first issues, and it was talking about this new technology called "hypertext". I've always been into Science Fiction, and this tech really felt like SciFi to me - so I was really excited. I mean, the idea that I could be reading about border collies, and they mention merino sheep, and I can click something and it would show me a picture of a sheep. How cool is that? So, when I got back to the States and started working at an ISP, it was natural that I'd want to learn more about this HTML thing - after all, it may not be a floating car, but at least it's close to SciFi. How did you get into Web design and development?
Why did you want to become a Web developer? Remember, you can only vote once, so please read all the choices before you click one.
Comments
I became a web developer because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was employed as the in-house geek on a personnel project who thought it would be a good wheeze to validate their findings via this ‘information-super-highway’ thingy and ambushed me after a liquid lunch. And thus my first dynamic site ingloriously hacked its way out of a shell. I have always looked back since then to the days when technology I worked with only updated every 3 months rather than every 3 minutes as it seems too now.
Because I’ve been in computer programming all my adult life(a long time)
, and it’s the only thing I know. Also, my geographic location makes web development the most marketable alternative to me.
I started to learn HTML because there was nothing online in my mother tongue about my favorite writer Lucy Maud Montgomery. I wanted to know if I was the only french speaker in the world to like her. Of course, I was not but everybody seemed to think that he was alone. Even now, there is not a lot of information about her available, online or not, in french. With this first experience, I have discovered that I like it and I wanted to learn more.
I want to become a Web Developer because I have a great interest in the internet, digital video, multimedia applications, and computer graphics. Besides the above reason my main reason is that I want to pursue additional technical knowledge and skills so I can advance in the IT Field.
Just like the first writer, qaqwex, said: I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was making very ugly advertisement grpahics for a local “Aloe Vera” dealer, and his IT spcialist saw me and asked “Do you want to be an intern at my computer store?” Well, I said “Yes” because I wanted to get a real job, so I started working for him.
Well, he then threw me into webdesign with the words “This customer needs an online shop. Good luck”. I had NO idea whatsoever about webdesign or programming… but I did learn. So yes, basically it was pure coincidence (coincidinc, Mr Flanders?), but I started to love doing stuff like programming and designing.
Looking back at the last years now, I am pretty happy about what I have achieved by just reading and trial & error. I am proud to have gotten a real fulltime job as a webdeveloper (NOT designer *g*), and am looking at my daily job with a small smile, as this is what I really like to do. On the other hand: there isn’t much I could do apart from programming, so I guess that adds to the happiness of having this job… I couldn’t do anything else (let alone hard physical labour *g*).
I’m not proud to say it’s for the money! But I will explain why. I always been poor, very poor, but I always spent my free time and alot of week-ends doing web sites for personal project, since 1996. One day, one of my friend told me that I should do web design as a living (ten years later in 2006). So I did, and I’m not poor anymore. It’s like I was made to do web design for a living, cause this is the only thing I’m able to do in a professional way, because I even do it when i’m not working.
I got into the field because I love doing it. I can’t wait to start a new design and meet clients. I enjoy it immensely.
I became a web designer kinda by accident. I went to school for computer programming. to be honest i was more concerned about how my forms looked in visual basic rather than the code that made it worked. after i graduated i had a couple of interviews for visual basic positions but never got them. i wasnt that mad but i knew i wanted to do something creative. in college we had 1 html class and i was like hey…maybe i could do web design. so i started my own portfolio doing local business site. I did my first site for $800 and that was the beginning of web design career. im now a web designer professionally and i still do it on the side. i encourage people who want to do it to get their personal portfolio right…because thats what the interviewers look at.
To me web design is part of the larger field of Multimedia Technology. I went got into it (and went to school) for the technology AND the creativity.
Hi, thank you for the instructions.
I needed to be computer savy in my ever evolving job as a medical diagnostic imaging service engr. I also have a hobby of writing poetry and publishing it on the web. First in HTML until “Save as HTML” made it unnecessary.
I am also writing occational collumns on the web-site of an ethnic oriented organization which provides a personal website template to be creative on. The latter kind of cramps my style so I thought maybe css could provide more options to be creative.
perhaps you could devote a collumn to that aspect.
re:http://www.onzeplek.nl/cms/publish/content/showpage.asp?pageID=606
I started designing web pages because the old Prodigy Classic network gave everybody 1 MB of web space and that stirred my creative juices. I wound up with three accounts and 3 MB and used them all to make roleplaying pages, documenting the stories that I was involved with in Prodigy’s chat rooms and progressing to put up character biographies for others. Hippie 97 taught me HTML and I still use it, antiquated as it is. Then one of the roleplayers asked me to design a site for him for pay, and I’ve never looked back.
I did not want to become a Web Developer. I am and always will be a student. I have worked with computers since 1965. For the last 5 years My studies have revolved around HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and other web related items. As I become comfortable in one area I move on to new lessons. I have done sites for others but seldom for pay.
I designed my first website in 1996 when my son was motor racing.I bought a book on HTML editing and I was away. I love the challenge of all the coding, (which I used to write myself but now use Dreamweaver,) and it’s why I joined about.com to learn more. I am a writer, illustrator and graphic designer so I’ve been able to use my skills together on websites for clients. If I could I’d sit here all hours creating sites and also finding more up to date information about website building. I can’t imagine not doing web design now.
I become a Web developer as I saw the need for my business (Isabelle’s Lighting Inc formerly Isabelle Electrical Supply Company Inc in South Barre, VT) to have presence on the internet. At the time, we had a brick-and-mortar showroom and warehouse building in a poor drive-to location. Since we own the building and land, we have converted the old location into a rental property for a few different businesses and organizations and conduct all of our business with Isabelle’s Lighting on-line (both over the internet at www.isabelleslighting.com and by phone at 1-800-639-2609). This transition has enabled us to lower our overhead and offer our customers better prices, more selection, and faster service - all throughout the USA. ~ Tom Isabelle
I became a Web Designer because there was less competition than that of a Symphony Orchestra Tuba player. There’s only 1 tuba player in an orchestra. My odds were and still are better as a Web Designer.
I’ve been in the information technology for more than 39 years. I worked from computer programming, systems programming, database, and the last 20 years I was technical manager. After I retired, I needed to do something that I can accomplish for myself, and it’s the thing that allowed me to communicate with the people of my native land close to the Antes, which allowed me to work as a volunteer doing computer and technology related functions, recommendations and web development for the high school.
I like to write, I like to be creative, but if I were offered the option of a second choice, I’d have to go with Technology. Working in HTML, XHTML CSS and Dreamweaver gets my creative juices flowing. There’s a lot of instant gratification in writing a little code and seeing the results in seconds. As a (former) member of the broadcast media, and a lifelong media student, I think the web and web design present us with the ultimate vehicle for expressing our communication needs and desires. From the kids on MySpace, to the UTubers, to the Bloggers, to the Designers and coders. This is media heaven!
Yeah, :d 3 years back, in the age of 18 i received a phone call frm computer institution (You have got Scholarship in computer, me make u lern HTML in Rs 1500/- instead of 7000/- or $20 instead of & 80). Then i started thinking i haven’t done any type of computer course hw did i get scholarship
. Then i gone to that institute i joined the course, they told me It will take 45 days to learn HTML. Bt because of v. v. poor service of institution the cant complete my course in 6 months. after that company sell thier company to another, n gone with making my fool.
Then last year in october, (14 months back), i recieved 1 mail buy 4 Cd’s of Web site designing. I buyed which cost me 440Rs or $10. Nw at present after watching many rich people who started their business with website designing. i Want to become rich to develop my country…
I da coming days i ll able to design a fabolus website. i believe in my self and my website will be the no.1 one day….
and i am waiting for that 1 day.?
thakxx….
All the best to u all and your future may olways shine….
IF U BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, THEN THERE IS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE..